Mailing-tube.



No. 736,407. PATENTED AUG. 18., 1903. J. c. KIMSEY. MAILING TUBE.

APPLICATION TILED DEG. 3, 1902.

to MODEL.

lllil 11%3365 wwemov,

line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

UNITED STATES Patented August 18, 1903.

ATENT Enron.

MAILING-TUBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,407, dated August 18, 1903.

- Application filed December 3, 1902. Serial No. 133,790: (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES (J. KIMSEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mailing-Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in mailing-tubes, and relates more especially to the provision of means for temporarily closing the ends of the tube. v

The primary object of the invention is to provide an end-closing device for mailingtubes which will permit ready access to the contents of the tube and in such manner that the same may be forwarded through the mails under the class of unsealed matter.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a closure for the ends-of a mailing-tube which will reinforce or strengthen the tube, so that the tube proper may be made with a comparatively thin wall without danger of collapsing.

With the above objects in view the invention consists of a cupped disk adapted to fit in the end of the tube, combined with metal clips or fingers attached to the tube and adapted to be bent into the cupped disk for the purpose of holding the same in the tube, all as hereinafter particularly described and more specifically set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, Figure l is a side elevation of a mailing-tube constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view enlarged. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the Fig. 4 is a. detail view of the cupped disk or cover. Fig. 5 is a detail View of one of the clips.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several viewsof the drawings.

A designates the body of the tube, which is a cylinder of paper, as is usual, and in carrying out my invention I attach to each end of the tube two or more metal clips or fingers B, which are adapted to project beyond the ends of the tube, so that in use they may be bent downward into said tube, and in connection with these clips or fingers provide a cupped disk C,adapted to fit snugly into the end of the tube and be held in place by the aforesaid metal clips or fingers, the said cupped disk 0 having flanges c at its outer edge which overlie the ends of the tube.

The metal clips or fingers may be attached to the ends of the tube in any desired manner-for instance, as shown in the drawings, wherein said clips consist of a strip of metal having points I) at its edges, which are forced through the tube and clenched on the inner side thereof. These clips may be located on the outer side of the tube when the latter is made of a single thickness of paper or embedded in the same when several thicknesses are employed. The free ends of the clips are bent outward and downward, as shown, so that when said free ends are bent into the cupped disk ('3 the upturned ends will facilitate the operation of bending them outward to release said disk.

By providing a cupped disk the ends of the metal clips or fingers will be fully protected against injuring mail-matter, and the rim will also strengthen the disk, so that very thin metal may be employed. The edge flanges c of the cupped disk prevent said disk from slipping into the tube, while the clips, which are bent over the rims, serve to hold the disk in the end of the tube. By closing the ends of the tube with cupped disks, as shown and described, the body of the tube is materially strengthened and will therefore permit the use of a tube with a comparatively thin wall. The operation of the device in use will be apparent, for after removing the disk at one end of the tube the roll or other article may be passed into the tube. The disk is then inserted in the open end and the clips bent down to hold the disk in place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi The combination, in a mailing-tube, of the cupped disk having a surrounding flange at its outer edge with depending lips for engagement with the end of the tube, and the metal plates or clips B having points struck from the edges by which they are attached to the tube, said plates or clips each having its end portion bent rearward and the terminal end bent further rearward, whereby when said plate or clip is bent into the cupped disk to lock the latter in place the rearWardly-bent In testimony whereof I affix my signature portion aforesaid will bear directly upon the to this specification in the presence of two bottom of said cupped disk and the terminal subscribing witnesses.

end project outward to facilitate engagement of the plate or clip in bending the same out- Witnesses: ward to release the disk, as shown and described. l

JAMES C. KIMSEY.

E. W. OMENSETTER, J. L. M. MICHAEL. 

